Good Weekend in the Khumbu

October 28, 2018

What a gorgeous couple of days in the Khumbu Valley! Our Ama Dablam Team had a Puja at Base Camp and then packed up for their first rotation on Ama Dablam. The plan is for the team to sleep at Yak Camp tonight and hen head up to Camp 1. Phunuru and Sherpa Fura went up to Yak Camp and found the need to bring water up for the team. With the help of yaks, they brought water up for cooking and drinking. The team is in great form and ready to climb.

: Ama Dablam team trekking to Yak Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

: Lama at Ama Dablam Base Camp giving blessing (Phunuru Sherpa)

: 2018 Ama Dablam Team at BC after the Puja (Phunuru Sherpa)

Our 3X2 with Lobuche Peak Team is now at Lobuche Base Camp. They will train and prepare to head to High Camp. IMG Senior Sherpa Guide Karma Rita is at Lobuche Base Camp and will work with the team as they prepare and climb Lobuche.

Lobuche Base Camp (Ang Jangbu)

Harry Hamlin checked in after going over Cho La. He managed to get some photos out of the team as they crossed the pass. Harry said the route was in good condition, and the team performed very well. Look at those photos!

: Cho la with Ama Dablam (Harry Hamlin)

: West Side of Cho la (Harry Hamlin)

All is well in the Khumbu Valley and Gokyo!

Greg Vernovage

Nepal Teams Enjoying Big Views and Cool Temps

October 27, 2018

It has been very clear in the Khumbu Valley. With the clear weather comes cool temperatures; Phunuru noted -13 in his tent at Ama Dablam Base Camp overnight. Our 3X2 Team climbed Kala Pattar and sent back a few great photos from the summit where they reported beautiful and chilly. Not quite cold enough for Romulo to trade out his iconic climbing cowboy hat! With the clear skies and cool temperatures can come unbelievable views! This is exactly what they are getting.

: Climbing Kala Pattar with the Khumbu Glacier below (Jess Wedel)

: Climbing Kala Pattar with Pumori (Jess Wedel)

: Jess, Romulo and Mary on top of Kala Pattar with Everest in the background (Jess Wedel)

The Ama Dablam Team trekked to Yak Camp to get a better look at the route, move additional gear and prepare for their first rotation. They are now back at Base Camp and will get ready to start climbing and sleeping at Camp 1. The route has been fixed to the summit and teams are reporting great climbing conditions!

Ama Dablam Camps (Eric Simonson)

Our Private Trek made it over Cho La and are now heading to Gokyo to get an up close look at Cho Oyu.

: Cho La (Tye Chapman)

: Looking down towards Thagnak from Cho La (Tye Chapman)

Everyone is doing well and the team enjoyed an exciting day trekking over the pass.

Greg Vernovage

Ama Dablam Progress

October 26, 2018

Phunuru with Ama Dablam (Nathan Berry)

On Ama Dablam, the Team is absolutely cranking!Â Phunuru called to let me know that everyone is doing very well.Â They had a nice rest day followed by some essential training on techniques they will need for the climb.Â Before training, Phunuru and Sherpa Fura trekked first to Yak Camp to find camping spots and water.Â After Yak Camp, they climbed to Camp 1 and pitched a couple tents.

: Practicing the fixed lines (Sherpa Fura)

: Camp 1 on Ama Dablam (Phunuru Sherpa)

With training complete and tents up at Camp 1, the team made plans for tomorrow.Â They will head out after breakfast for Yak Camp to stretch their legs, move gear up the mountain, and evaluate the route.Â There are a few other teams climbing on Ama Dablam and the reports are the route is in excellent condition.

: Rigging with Valari (Nathan Berry)

: Happy Birthday Jim! (Phunuru Sherpa)

Last thing on the agenda today – a couple teammates have birthdays coming up! Wishing them each a very Happy Birthday!!!

Greg Vernovage

Private EBC Trek Heads Toward Cho La

October 26, 2018

: Trekking to Dzongla with Ama Dablam in the background (Harry Hamlin)

: Kala Pattar Summits (Harry Hamlin)

: Cholatse (Harry Hamlin)

IMG Guide Harry Hamlin checked in from Dzongla today to let us know that the Private trekking team had a great morning climbing to the summit of Kala Pattar.Â Nice job you everyone!Â After the climb, the team returned to Gorakshep for a late breakfast before heading down and around to Dzongla.Â The trek from Gorakshep to Dzongla is a mellow day of downhill trekking.Â Once the team passes Lobuche Village, the valley opens up to expose great views and beautiful alpine walls.Â The team is at Dzongla for the night and will head over Cho La in the morning, on its way to Gokyo.

Pumori at Sunrise (Harry Hamlin)

All is well on the Private EBC Trek with Gokyo!

Greg Vernovage

3X2 Team Reaches EBC!

October 26, 2018

3X2 Team at EBC (Jess Wedel)

We received some great photos from the 3X2 Team overnight.Â They made it to Everest Base Camp today and enjoyed great views!Â Congratulations to the Team!Â This has been a dream for everyone on the team and with birthdays coming up, a pretty special time.Â Tomorrow, the team will climbÂ Kala Pattar and then head down to Lobuche Base Camp to prepare for their climb.

: Romulo, Mary, and Jess at EBC (Jess Wedel)

: 3X2 Team with the Khumbu Icefall (Jess Wedel)

All is well with the 3X2 and Lobuche Peak climbing Team!

Greg Vernovage

A Great Day In The Khumbu Valley

October 25, 2018

: 3X2 Team at Khongma La (Jess Wedel)

: Private Trek at Gorakshep with Nuptse in the background (Harry Hamlin)

: Private Trek at EBC (Harry Hamlin)

: Ama Dablam from Khongma La (Tye Chapman)

Our Teams are enjoying great weather in the Khumbu Valley!Â Our Private EBC Trek with Gokyo Loop Team made it to Everest Base Camp.Â IMG Guide Harry Hamlin sent back a couple great photos of the team.Â They are now back at Gorakshep and will wake up early to climb Kala Pattar.

The 3X2 Team with Lobuche Peak Team enjoyed a perfect High Altitude Trekking day, crossing Khongma La.Â This is a major test for any trekker.Â Leaving Chukkung the team gradually heads uphill, crossing the pass and gaining stunning views.Â This team made great time and are feeling good at Lobuche Village.

At Ama Dablam Base Camp, the team spent their rest day familiarizing themselves with their climbing duffels and getting organized in their tents.Â IMG Guide Nathan Berry arrived after his 2 day trek from Lukla.Â It is safe to say that Nathan is well acclimatized after a summit of Island Peak, crossing Amphu Lapsta and 2 summits of Mera Peak.Â Phunuru and Sherpa Fura trekked up to Camp 1 to evaluate the route and look for camp sites.Â Tomorrow the team will rig harnesses and do some training.

All is well in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage

3 X 2 & Ama Dablam Teams Part Ways

October 24, 2018

: 3X2 and Ama Dablam Team in Chukkung (Jess Wedel)

: 2018 Ama Dablam Team at BC (Phunuru Sherpa)

: 2018 Ama Dablam Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

We received a few great photos from the 3X2 and Ama Dablam Team.Â I have already said it but will let the photos tell you how much fun these two teams are having on the trip.Â The Ama Dablam Team trekked to Ama Dablam Base Camp (15,000â€™) from Chukkung.Â This is a mellow trekking day and the team found themselves at Ama Dablam Base Camp just in time for lunch.Â They were welcomed by IMG Guides Phunuru Sherpa and Fura Sherpa.Â Camp is set up and we are ready for the team to start doing some climbing!

Back at Chukkung, the 3X2 Team took a well-deserved rest day after climbing Chukkung Ri (18,238â€™).Â The rest day is important because tomorrow is a high altitude trek across Khongma La (18,320â€™) and into Lobuche Village.Â The trek tomorrow over Khongma La is without a doubt, one of the more picturesque days of the entire trip!

Greg Vernovage

Mera Peak Express Team Back In Lukla

October 24, 2018

: Nate and Dawa on the Heli (Nathan Berry)

: Mera Peak Express on the summit (Dawa Sherpa)

: Khote with morning light (Nathan Berry)

: Heli landing at Khote (Nathan Berry)

IMG Guides Dawa Sherpa and Nathan Berry checked in from Lukla overnight.Â The team was up early at Khote.Â The helicopter arrived on time under beautiful morning skies and picked up the team and headed for Lukla.Â After a great flight back to Lukla, the team enjoyed a nice breakfast.Â Nathan said they found some delicious breakfast burritos!

The team will be ready to fly back to Kathmandu tomorrow morning, finishing up another great Mera Peak Express Climb.

Greg Vernovage

Carstensz Pyramid = Adventure Travel

October 23, 2018

: Yellow Valley BC on Carstensz (Jonathan Schrock)

: Carstensz Pyramid (Greg Vernovage)

: Heli at Yellow Valley (Jonathan Schrock)

Anyone who has been to Carstensz Pyramid knows that there is a lot that goes into the planning, preparation and execution of the trip.Â Once the perfect plan is made, be prepared to be flexible and above all patient.Â Our 2018 Team had as close to a perfect summit day as anyone could want with 100% standing on top.Â After returning to Yellow Valley Base Camp, it is time to refocus our efforts on the helicopter transportation back out.Â The weather is our biggest nemesis with cloud cover causing the majority of the heartburn.Â After patiently waiting and getting flights into and out of the Valley the last 3 days, our entire team has now returned to Timika!Â Great news!

Thank you to all of our climbers, family and friends for the support during the expedition and congratulations on another successful season on Carstensz Pyramid.Â Now it is time to focus on the 2019 Carstensz Pyramid Trip.Â Is 2019 your year to climb?

Greg Vernovage

Teams On The Move In The Khumbu Valley

October 23, 2018

: Private Trek with Gokyo Loop with Lobuche Peak in the back (Harry Hamlin)

: Chukkung Ri summit with Lhotse (Nathan Berry)

: Summit of Chukkung Ri with Ama Dablam (Nathan Berry)

We have Teams on the move in and around the Khumbu Valley.Â Our 3X2 and Ama Dablam Teams had a great trek up Chukkung Ri today.Â Tomorrow will be a tough day for these two teams, not in terms of trekking or climbing but going in different directions.Â The Ama Dablam Team will traverse across the high trail and into Ama Dablam Base Camp.Â The 3X2 Team will take a rest day in Chukkung before heading across Khongma La (Pass) to Lobuche Village.Â This has been a great team to follow since they have come together very well and really enjoyed each other’s company. They’ll all be rooting for each other over the coming days & weeks.

Down valley, Harry Hamlin checked in with our Private EBC Trek + Gokyo Loop Team.Â The Team had a great day trekking and acclimatizing above Dingboche.Â They enjoyed views of Ama Dablam, Makalu, Island Peak, Cho Oyu and Lobuche Peak.Â The Team will depart Dingboche in the morning and take the high road to Lobuche Village.Â The â€œhigh roadâ€ as I call it is the upper trail above Pheriche Village.Â This trail is off the beaten path and will allow the team to trek with grazing yaks and move through Dougla before trekkimg through The Valley of Memories, the area where fallen climbers are remembered.

Great days in the Khumbu Valley!

Greg Vernovage